Numbers in Haida
Hlg̱aagilda X̱aayda Kil / X̱aad Kil
Numbers in Haida follow a vigesimal (base-20) system, making it unique among North American indigenous languages. Spoken by about 275 people in Canada’s Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island, Haida is a language isolate. Its counting system combines specific words for numbers one to nine with a pattern of multiplying and adding by twenty, creating a complex but logical structure. This system influences daily life, trade, and cultural practices, reflecting the rich heritage of the Haida people. Exploring the numbers in Haida reveals a fascinating blend of tradition and linguistic ingenuity, making it a captivating subject for language enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Number system
Haida uses a vigesimal system, where numbers from one to nine are specific words: sgwáansang [1], sdáng [2], hlgúnahl [3], stánsang [4], tléihl [5], tla’únhl [6], jagwaa [7], sdáansaangaa [8], and tláahlsgwáansangguu [9]. Tens are formed by combining the word for ten, tláahl, with the multiplier digit, e.g., tláahl wáak sdáng [12] (10 + 2), or lagwa uu sgwáansang [20] (20*1). For compound numbers, the ten is followed by 'wáak' (plus) and the digit, such as tláahl wáak sgwáansang [11] (10 + 1) or lagwa uu sdáng [40] (20*2). Hundreds are built by multiplying 20 by the number, e.g., lagwa uu tléihl [100] (20*5), and larger numbers like 1,000 are formed with the pattern lagwa uu tlaalee tléihl. The system combines addition and multiplication, creating a logical pattern for counting up to one billion.
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Counting from 1 to 9
Numbers 1-9 are unique words: sgwáansang [1], sdáng [2], hlgúnahl [3], stánsang [4], tléihl [5], tla’únhl [6], jagwaa [7], sdáansaangaa [8], tláahlsgwáansangguu [9]. For example, 6 is tla’únhl, and 9 is tláahlsgwáansangguu.
Forming tens
Tens are formed by combining the word for ten, tláahl, with the multiplier digit, e.g., tláahl wáak sdáng [12] (10 + 2), or lagwa uu sgwáansang [20] (20*1). For 30, it's tlaalee hlgúnahl (10*3), and for 40, lagwa uu sdáng (20*2).
Constructing compound numbers
Numbers like 11 are formed by placing ten first, then 'wáak' (plus), then the digit: tláahl wáak sgwáansang [11]. For 25, it's lagwa uu sdáng wáak tléihl (20*2 + 10*5).
Hundreds
Hundreds are built by multiplying 20 by the number: lagwa uu tléihl [100] (20*5), 200 is lagwa uu tláahl [200], and 300 is lagwa uu tláahl wáak lagwa uu tléihl [300]. For 800, it's lagwa uu tlaalee sdáansaangaa [800].
Larger numbers
Thousands are formed by adding the multiplier after 'tlaalee tléihl' (1000), e.g., lagwa uu tlaalee tléihl [1,000], and 2,000 is lagwa uu tlaalee tléihl wáak sdáng. One million is lagwa uu tlaalee kwan, and one billion is lagwa uu tlaalee kwan wáak lagwa uu tlaalee tléihl.
Unique features
Haida uses a vigesimal system, with 20 as a key multiplier, unlike the decimal systems in English or many other languages. For example, 40 is lagwa uu sdáng, literally 20*2.
Numbers 6-9 are formed by adding to five: tla’únhl (6), stánsang (4), which is different from simple additive systems.
The pattern for 11-19 involves combining ten with 'wáak' and the digit, e.g., tláahl wáak sgwáansang [11], which is a compound structure not common in many languages.
Large numbers like 1,000 and 1,000,000 are built systematically by multiplying and adding, e.g., lagwa uu tlaalee tléihl for 1,000 and lagwa uu tlaalee kwan for 1 million.
The word 'kwan' for million is borrowed or adapted from other languages, reflecting cultural exchanges.
Cultural context
The Haida people inhabit the Queen Charlotte Islands in Canada and Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, with a rich maritime culture centered around fishing, art, and totem poles. Numbers play a vital role in their storytelling, trade, and ceremonial practices. Traditional trade often involved counting large quantities of fish or cedar wood, where their vigesimal system facilitated quick calculations. Certain numbers, like 13 or 17, may hold cultural significance, though specific taboos are not well documented. The language’s numerical system reflects their environment and social structure, emphasizing the importance of large-scale counting and resource management in their daily life and cultural heritage.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 9 is tláahlsgwáansangguu, meaning 'ten minus one,' showcasing a subtractive pattern unique among many indigenous languages.
Fact 2: Unlike English, which is decimal, Haida’s use of 20 as a base makes it similar to other vigesimal languages like French (e.g., 'quatre-vingts' for 80).
Fact 3: The compound structure for numbers like 25 (lagwa uu sdáng wáak tléihl) demonstrates a systematic combination of multiplication and addition, reflecting mathematical precision.
Fact 4: The word for one million, 'lagwa uu tlaalee kwan,' suggests a concept of large-scale counting that may have been used historically for resource estimation.
Fact 5: The language can articulate numbers up to one billion using systematic multiplication, indicating a sophisticated numerical concept that surpasses many other indigenous languages.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Haida?
1 - sgwáansang, 2 - sdáng, 3 - hlgúnahl, 4 - stánsang, 5 - tléihl, 6 - tla’únhl, 7 - jagwaa, 8 - sdáansaangaa, 9 - tláahlsgwáansangguu, 10 - tláahl.
What number base does Haida use?
Haida uses a vigesimal (base-20) system, evidenced by words like lagwa uu sgwáansang [20], lagwa uu sdáng [40], and 100 as lagwa uu tléihl, which is 20*5.
How do you say 42 in Haida?
42 is constructed as lagwa uu tlaalee sdáng, meaning 20*2 + 10, following the pattern of multiplying 20 by 2 and adding 10.
How do you say 100 in Haida?
100 is lagwa uu tléihl, which is 20*5, following the pattern of multiplying 20 by 5.
How many people speak Haida?
About 275 people speak Haida, primarily in Canada’s Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island.
Is Haida related to other languages?
No, Haida is a language isolate within North American Indian languages, meaning it has no known close relatives.
What makes Haida counting unique?
Its vigesimal system, with numbers like 11 (tláahl wáak sgwáansang) and 100 (lagwa uu tléihl), and the systematic way it constructs large numbers up to a billion, distinguishes it from many other indigenous counting systems.
Sources
- Íihlx̱aadas húus x̱íinaangslaang
- The Haida Language
- Language geek